The Department of Wildlife and Forest Conservation has announced the temporary closure of Blocks 01 and 02 of Yala National Park to tourists from today(14), citing the impact of prevailing dry weather conditions. 

According to the Department, the measure will remain in effect until October 15, with officials stating that the decision was taken to safeguard wildlife struggling with acute shortages of food and water. 

Yala, home to 44 species of mammals, 215 species of birds, 47 species of reptiles, and 21 species of fish, has been severely affected by El Niño‑driven heat this season.

Several water sources inside the park have dried up, while trees and grasslands have withered, leaving animals facing both thirst and food scarcity. 

Wildlife officers are undertaking intensive measures to ease the crisis, including releasing water drawn from the Menik River via solar‑powered pumps into park ponds through underground pipelines. 

In addition, around 200,000 liters of water are being transported daily by bowsers to replenish natural and artificial ponds.

Authorities state that the closure is intended to minimize disturbances to animals during this critical period. (Newswire)

The post Yala National Park Blocks 1 and 2 closed to tourists from today appeared first on Newswire.

A bus carrying passengers on a trip from Chilaw toppled into a roadside ditch after a wild elephant approached the vehicle near Buttelala, bordering Yala National Park.

Police said the elephant had come to the driver’s side of the bus, apparently seeking food, when the vehicle lost control and overturned.

A total of 25 passengers sustained minor injuries. Thirteen were admitted to Kataragama Hospital, while twelve others were treated at Hambantota Hospital. No serious injuries were reported.

The Police further said that investigations are underway into the incident. (Newswire/ Image- Accident1st)

The post 25 injured as bus topples after wild elephant encounter in Kataragama appeared first on Newswire.

The Department of Wildlife Conservation has confirmed that investigations are underway into allegations of poaching inside Yala National Park’s Block V, following a video handed over to park officials earlier this month.

According to the department, the incident occurred on the afternoon of August 10 in the Veheragala area. A safari jeep driver who recorded the video submitted it to the Block V park warden the same day. The warden subsequently carried out inspections on August 11 and 12, but the suspect could not be located.

Officials later learned that the individual had left his usual area of residence. Wildlife officers are continuing investigations to apprehend him.

The department noted that the suspect has a history of offences. He was previously arrested and produced before court, where the Wellawaya Magistrate’s Court imposed a fine of Rs. 150,000. 

Considering his prior record, he was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment, suspended for five years. Unable to pay the fine, he spent three months in remand prison. 

The latest incident has also been reported to the Wellawaya Magistrate’s Court.

The case drew public attention after a social media post alleged that a group including the poacher had entered Block V in broad daylight, carried out illegal activities, and left without consequence.

Video: https://www.facebook.com/reel/2076016092992201 (Newswire)

The post Wildlife Department confirms probe into Yala poacher incident appeared first on Newswire.

The Department of Wildlife Conservation has announced that Zones 1 and 2 of Yala National Park will be temporarily closed to tourists from September 14.

According to the department, zones 1 and 2 of Yala National Park will be temporarily closed until October 15.

The department further states that the temporary closure comes due to prevailing dry weather conditions. (Newswire)

The post Yala National Park Zones 1 and 2 to close for tourists from September 14 appeared first on Newswire.

A special project featuring a new physical development plan is to be implemented at Yala National Park to minimize difficulties faced by tourists, following a high‑level discussion chaired by Minister of Environment Dr. Dammika Patabendi on Sunday (17). 

The initiative aims to reduce congestion in line with international park standards, with officials presenting both short‑term and long‑term proposals. 

The plan emphasizes sustainable construction, improved facilities, and enhanced services to make the park more attractive and visitor‑friendly.

During the inspection tour, Minister Patabendi reviewed several sites and directed officials to improve facilities for both local and foreign tourists.

Among the proposals discussed were the establishment of new service centers and parking facilities for tourist vehicles, upgrades to the park entrance, information center, ticket counters, museum, sanitation services, souvenir outlets, and staff quarters, as well as measures to address human resource shortages within the Department of Wildlife Conservation. 

Officials also highlighted the need for additional ticket counters and upgraded technology to reduce delays during peak visitor periods.

Further proposals included renovating damaged road systems to accommodate the large number of jeeps entering the park, developing facilities at the Lunugamwehera entrance, and establishing Arangamuwa as a new viewing zone to ease congestion in Yala Zone 02. 

In response to dry weather conditions, water is being supplied daily to animals in the park using three bowser trucks, while six solar‑powered water units have been installed to fill small ponds, with capacity to be increased as needed.

The discussion was held at the Palatupana entrance office in Yala Zone 02, with participation from Ministry Secretary K.R. Uduwawala, Additional Director General of Wildlife Conservation (Operations) Manjula Amaranath, Additional Secretary of Wildlife Division Udaya Kumara, and several senior officials of the Ministry of Environment. (Newswire)

The post Special project to ease tourist congestion at Yala National Park appeared first on Newswire.

Four individuals, including the driver of a private tourist vehicle, were arrested by wildlife officers inside Yala National Park for illegal conduct following a collision with a safari jeep on Friday (12).

According to the Department of Wildlife Conservation, the group, who had been staying at the Lower Hentota Tourist Bungalow inside the national park, were taken into custody yesterday (14). 

Their vehicle had collided with a safari jeep near Yala junction, after which the driver and passengers allegedly got down inside the park and attempted to engage in a confrontation, an act prohibited within the protected area.

The department said that the suspects are scheduled to be produced before the Tissamaharama Magistrate’s Court today (15). (Newswire)

The post Four tourists arrested in Yala over brawl after Jeep collision appeared first on Newswire.

Three Sri Lankan leopard cubs that were born at the Singapore Zoo on Jan 1 have now made their public debut at the facility.

The two males and one female, born to mother Yala and father Asanka, are the first of their species to be born at the Singapore Zoo. The last successful birth in Singapore was recorded at the Night Safari three decades ago.

The triplets, which are the pair’s first litter, are among around 80 Sri Lankan leopards in zoos worldwide.

The species is listed as vulnerable on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, with fewer than 800 individuals estimated to remain in the wild.

Visitors can now see the triplets at the Wild Africa exhibit, said the Mandai Wildlife Group in a statement on April 16.

The cubs can be found in the exhibit with their mother daily until mid-May and, subsequently, every Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday.

Mandai Wildlife Group curator Anand Kumar said it took nearly three years and close collaboration across continents to bring together a compatible pair of Sri Lankan leopards.

“To see three healthy cubs thriving and developing their own personalities is incredibly rewarding,” he said.

Mr Anand added that the cubs have started showing distinct personalities, with the two males having a tendency to be more laid-back, while the female is observed to be feistier.

“We can already tell them apart by their demeanour and the spot patterns on their forehead, like fingerprints,” he said.

The cubs were found to be healthy during their first veterinary checks in February, said the Mandai Wildlife Group. They have also received vaccinations against common feline diseases and deworming treatment as part of preventive care.

Mandai Wildlife Group has welcomed a number of newborns in the first four months of 2026. On March 23, the Singapore Zoo welcomed a Bornean orang utan baby. The orang utan is classified as critically endangered by the IUCN.

On March 1, a baby pangolin, also a critically endangered species, was born.

The wildlife reserve had also announced in January that Singapore’s wildlife parks welcomed close to 1,000 newborns in 2025.

Among the new additions are the criticially endangered red-shanked douc langur and Huulien leopard gecko.

Other first-time milestones include the L’Hoest’s monkey, wattled crane and Chinese fire belly newt. (The Straits Times)

The post Singapore Zoo’s first Sri Lankan leopard cubs make their public debut appeared first on Newswire.

Two suspects have been arrested for allegedly killing wild animals in Yala National Park and possessing animal meat.

The arrests were made during a joint special operation conducted by officers of the Police Special Task Force and wildlife officials in Zone No. 2 of the park.

Authorities recovered 92 kilograms of venison, a locally manufactured firearm, two bicycles, and several other equipment items from the suspects’ possession.

The suspects are residents of Kataragama and Haputale

They are due to be produced before the Tissamaharama Magistrate’s Court. (Newswire)

The post Two arrested for killing wildlife in Yala National Park appeared first on Newswire.

A baby elephant has been found with injuries to its leg due to getting caught in a snare in Zone 01, near the Butawa reservoir of the Yala National Park, according to the park warden.

The Department of Wildlife Conservation says wildlife veterinarians provided emergency medical treatment for the elephant yesterday.

The elephant calf, which was severely injured in its leg, was sedated, after which the necessary treatments were administered.

Wildlife veterinarian K. Dhammi, along with officers from the Lunugamvehera Health Management Centre, participated in this operation.

The Department of Wildlife Conservation pointed out that wild animals caught in snares suffer intense pain and often go unnoticed by officials immediately after being trapped.

Therefore, the public is urged to report any information about such illegal activities to the emergency Wildlife Department’s hotline 1992, so that those responsible can be brought to justice. (Newswire)

The post Wildlife officials treat baby elephant injured in Yala appeared first on Newswire.

The Ministry of Environment has decided to open several more zones of the Yala National Park to tourists, it is reported. 

According to Newsfirst, Minister of Environment Dammika Patabendi said plans are underway to open a new zone called Arangamuwa.

He further said that zones three and four, which currently remain closed, will also be reopened.

The Environment Minister said that the said zones will be opened soon and that the necessary facilities are being prepared.

He noted that this measure is being taken to deal with the heavy tourist congestion reported at the Yala National Park.

Of the 100,000 hectares of the Yala National Park, only 25,000 hectares are open to tourists. It consists of 06 zones with 06 entrances. (Newswire)

The post Yala National Park to open new Zone appeared first on Newswire.

A tense situation was reported at the entrance of the Yala National Park today following a heated argument between registered and non-registered safari jeep drivers, it was reported.

According to the Yala Safari Jeep Owners’ Association, an argument had erupted over the Wildlife Department’s annual registration process.

The Wildlife Department has approved registrations of a total of 551 safari jeeps, while an additional 40 new safari jeeps are awaiting registration.

Registered safari jeeps, assigned identification numbers to be displayed on their vehicles, are allowed to enter the park without trackers using a special licence, due to a shortage of trackers.

However, the newly registered safari jeeps are yet to be assigned trackers.

As per park regulations, safari jeep drivers who have not undergone proper training are not permitted to enter the park without a tracker, but the 40 new safari jeep drivers had entered the park without trackers.

This had led to an argument between the registered and new safari jeep owners leading to a decision to remove all identification stickers from registered safari jeeps. (Newswire)

The post Tense situation reported between safari jeep drivers at Yala appeared first on Newswire.

Video footage has been shared on social media of a rare sighting of two Sri Lankan Leopards in a fight at the Yala National Park.

Shared by a local wildlife enthusiast, the video shows two leopards engaged in a fight atop a tree. 

The incident is reported to have been captured this morning at the Yala National Park. (Newswire)

The post Watch : Leopard fight at Yala National Park appeared first on Newswire.

A wild elephant encounter has been reported in Sri Lanka where the animal had ransacked a vehicle in search of food.

Video footage shared on social media shows the elephant suddenly emerging from the side of the road and searching for food through the driver’s side window. 

No injuries or casualties were reported in the wild elephant encounter, while the vehicle, a luxury van, is said to have sustained minor damages.

Reports suggest that the incident may have taken place on the Sithulpawwa- Kataragama Road bordering the Yala National Park.

Wildlife authorities have repeatedly urged the public not to feed elephants on roads, as they could suddenly attack vehicles in search of food, similar to the incident reported above. (NewsWire)

Wild elephant encounter in Sri Lanka! Watch as this hungry elephant makes a bold move on a vehicle in search of a snack.

@r_evarts pic.twitter.com/Oarsw8F0Ji

— NewsWire (@NewsWireLK) December 12, 2023

The post Watch : Sri Lankan Elephant ransacks vehicle in search of food appeared first on Newswire.